PHYSICS 2ND QUARTER
with both magnitude and direction.
SCALAR AND VECTOR
 The temperature of an object is
measured by a thermometer.
 A thermometer provides readings like
this: 25 0C
Scalar Quantity
- A scalar quantity is a physical quantity
that has magnitude (size or quantity)
but no direction. Temperature is a scalar
quantity.
- It is described by a single number with
its appropriate unit.
Other examples of scalar quantities are mass,
time, distance, speed, density, and volume.
 Scalar quantities can be added or
subtracted using the rules of ordinary
arithmetic.
Vector Quantity
 A vector quantity is a physical quantity
 Magnitude describes the quantity or the
size of the physical quantity while
direction describes how the vector is
oriented relative to a reference point.
Suppose you wanted to describe the velocity of
a car.
The car is moving at a speed of 30 m/s.
Speed is a scalar quantity.
The car is moving at a speed of 30 m/s,
eastward.
Velocity is a vector quantity.
Representing Vector Quantities
- Vectors are represented by a single letter
with an arrow above them.
- speed scalar quantity
- velocity vector quantity
- The magnitude of vectors is represented
by the same letter used in a vector
quantity.
- The magnitude is a scalar quantity and it
is always positive.
More Ex’s of practice in ph1 scalar and vector
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